The Frock Doc

AHHH! I WANT TO BUY IT ALL!!!!

Okay, aside from the fact I cannot possibly buy it all, I found that there are some trends that I simply adore I cannot find on this side of the "pond" - and I think I'm willing to pay the duties and shipping for them too!

There simply is not an equivalent to this style that I love here. I've tried the J. Crew and the BR and left usually empty handed and generally frustrated. 

Things I love:

• Bold patterns in neutral colours that are easy to mix and match
• Navy, plum purple and other jewel toned colours
• Machine washable
• Fully lined dresses
• Knee-length (or longer!)
• Actual measurements 
• Quirky patterns (bird trench!)
• Natural fabrics

I'm glad there are still days in No Buy July so I can sort out my priorities and see what I can order. Boden is still pretty pricey even on sale; although their summer stuff is marked down quite a bit! I need to sleep on it to make sure I get the best "bang" for my buck!

Maybe I should fly to the UK with an empty suitcase? :)

I think I picked up this cardigan in the spring because I needed to buy three for a special price. I had bought a navy and a pink and wanted to try a fun colour so I went with green!

It was in my not worn pile because I didn't think green went with anything. I hope green plays nicely today!

ETA: Party of life! YAY!

• Cardigan: Ricki's
• Blouse: H&M
• Skirt: ModCloth
• Earrings: Anthropologie
• Belt: Vintage Burberry
• Pumps: Naturalizer Lennox
• Watch: Bulova

Weekends off make perfect times to catch up on life!!

Off to pick up parcels and see if my washi tape order has come in yet!

• Dress: Emily & Fin
• Earrings: Forever21
• Watch: Bulova
• Flats: Sam Edelman

I recently came across this dress, tags still attached, in the back of my closet in the dressy dress section.

It was one of the very first dresses I bought for myself that was "nicer": the J Crew Big Shot Dot dress. I've hung onto it for at least three years and never worn it.

It's a bit snug to get into over the shoulders (hopefully looks ok!) and I was really worried I would not fit and never get to wear it!! So wear it when it fits!!! Don't save for a rainy day!!

• Earrings: Anthropologie
• Dress: J. Crew
• Belt: Joe Fresh
• Cardigan: Ricki's
• Watch: Bulova
• Pumps: Naturalizer
• Purse: Kate Spade

Quick and simple question today!

Excuse my storage closet and camping gear! The door fell off it's hinges and the repairman (aka dad) isn't going to be around for a bit!

• Earrings: Ricki's
• Dress, Belt: Eva Franco
• Pumps: Naturalizer
• Blazer: SmartSet
• Pin: Star Trek Store
• Watch: Bulova

Last year's combo was a navy tshirt, wood beads necklace with the same skirt and nude pumps!

I have no patients today but just shoving around some paperwork, so no denim jacket but can go sleeveless! I went with a similar pump, the same skirt and the "wood" element in the earrings!

Stay tuned for tomorrow! :)

• Blouse: H&M
• Skirt, Belt: Anthropologie
• Earrings: Forever21
• Pumps: Naturalizer

I haven't busted out my separates for awhile now, because it's easier to just cop out and wear a dress sometimes, especially when it is super warm outside!

I was looking in my WiW archives for some inspiration and found out that one year ago around this time, I was wearing a ton of separates! I picked out five of my favourites and I thought it'd be fun to try and see how my style has changed now!

For the next five days (or so), I'm going to try to use the same base pieces that I had last year (still have many of the same things) and see what happens in terms of an outfit!

I won't replicate the same thing, because that's just kind of silly and probably defeats the whole purpose of this ... I don't think any of these outfits, even if 100% replicated would be too far from my day-to-day style, though! 

Let the games begin!

Another selection from the Cotton Capsule! This twirly number has pockets for my pens and a belt for my pager today!

It is fun to style things without an extra layer over top, but a challenge as well to create structure or to make sure things aren't too dressy!

Thought I would try to ground things with sandals instead of pumps. Maybe that would have been too fussy?

• Dress: eShakti
• Earrings: Ricki's
• Belt: Anthropologie
• Sandals: Clarks

I'm going to be on call Day 15 of No Buy July, hence this post is a day early.

I used to UNDERESTIMATE Rate of Return - I can't believe it's been half a month since I've bought anything to really add to my wardrobe, and it's finally given a chance for all the store credits and things to start to catch up with my return rate! I didn't know I quite returned that many things, but I've started to accumulate a bunch of store gift cards and credits that I think I'm going to start thinking about how to use. My H&M credit is going to expire soon, and I'm definitely going to use that up!! I know that I bought a lot of things, but didn't know how many of them were going back in the store, and if net I'd be spending more or less. I am using also YNAB to help track things, and it's nice to see a working total of every month's budget.

I used to UNDERESTMATE the amount of Extra Fees I accumulate - as a Canadian, paying duties was just natural to me. I didn't know how MUCH duties I was paying until now. The only thing I am paying out is duties, and with YNAB, I can see up to ONE THIRD of my total budget goes towards duties. Yes; one third. It's insane!!! I need to think of how I am going to tackle this in the future! Once only 20% of my purchases got dinged from ModCloth now consistently it's been 100%. I think they target the ModCloth boxes and I am so annoyed that I have to pay about $26 on every $60 I purchase. This is too high for me and I'm not willing to pay this extra markup. 

I have OTHER HOBBIES too! - I am spending more time (and energy) on doing other things aside from pursuing the next biggest and brightest thing in my wardrobe. I spend time with paper crafts and organizing my planner, as well as making detailed charts and notes about my patients and their progress. My preceptor thinks I'm a bit over-the-top, but really it's because I want to use all of my coloured pens!!! I have also revived my fountain pen and found a few friends who share my love of Noodler's Inks and my Lamy pink pen!

I want to wear the same things Over and Over again and have to stop myself - I found myself checking YLF's WIW's to see when I wore something last! I want to wear more of my closet, but right now the Cotton Collection is getting a workout because of the temperatures! I think I really like pockets! And not-fit-and-flares are not the enemy!

I find OTHER ways of expressing myself - Whether that be experimenting with how I part my hair, or do my daily makeup, it's a good time in honing my style in those often neglected areas. I am also spending some time researching about what type of glasses I should order for myself, too!

That's enough musings for now ... has anyone else learned anything during their first 15 days?

... Because it is a week of 30C!! Thank goodness for air conditioning! :) It will be all cottony frocks this week, though, but I don't mind because my cotton frock capsule (haha) is in good shape!

To start off the week will be a monochromatic ensemble... I thought of a pop of colour with brighter heels, but pattern match in the same colour family is as about as much some people at work can probably handle!

I do have a cardigan in my bag in case it is The Iron Grip of Winter at work! :)

• Earrings, necklace: Anthropologie
• Dress: Emily & Fin
• Pumps: Naturalizer